Zimbabwe’s KFC ‘has no money to buy chickens’

FAST FOOD chains in Zimbabwe are closing their doors due to financial struggles.

KFC put up notices at its branches in the capital, Harare, and the second city, Bulawayo, saying they would remain closed “during these difficult times” until further notice.

According to BBC Africa, the notice said: “This is due to the fact that we are unable to source stock from our suppliers as they require US dollars. We are doing everything possible to resume trade as soon as possible.”

Other fast food outlets like St Elmos pizza had shut its branches for the same reason, and Chicken Inn ran out of chicken on Tuesday, and it was unclear when they will get supplies again, the state-run Chronicle newspaper reported.

Last week, Zimbabwe’s Financial Gazette newspaper reported that many retail shops were running out of some essential goods because of foreign currency shortages.

Zimbabwe abandoned its own currency in 2009, adopting the use of foreign cash, including the US dollar.

The government issued its own version of dollars called “bond notes” in 2016 to ease the continuing cash shortage, but they have rapidly lost their value, particularly following the election of President Emmerson Mnangagwa.

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